Xie Lian breaks off another bite of cake with his fingers and eats it thoughtfully.¹ "The herbaceous note makes it taste healthy," he says, "and the fruits. But the chocolate is quite decadent. Perhaps there is something to be made of that contrast." He nibbles on the super-heated skin of a cherry, the juice immediately staining his chin. "Vigorous Satisfaction Torte?"

¹ Someone probably handed him a fork. He is ignoring it.